Transportation & Technology in Iran, 1800-1940 : Chapar, Carts, Carriages, Automobiles, Bicycles, Motor Cycles, Lodgings, Sewing Machines, Typewriters & Pianos / Willem Floor.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Floor, Willem, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Technology--Iran--History.

Technology.

Technological innovations--Iran--History.

Technological innovations.

Transportation and state--Iran.

Transportation and state.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (434 pages)

Other Title:

Transportation and Technology in Iran, 1800-1940

Place of Publication:

[Place of publication not identified] : Mage Publishers Inc, [2023]

Summary:

Only 100 years ago the main means of transportation in Iran was by quadruped. Transportation & Technology in Iran, 1800-1940, by renowned Iranian studies scholar Willem Floor is an in-depth, illustrated, four-part study of the subject. Until the 1920s Iran had no more than 700 kilometers of roads suitable for motor vehicles, which situation greatly impeded Iran's economic development. Caravans traveled 40 km/day, though travelers in a hurry could cover 150 km/day when using the courier system ( chapar ), which is the subject of part 1. Wheeled transportation, (in part 2 of the books) was rare and limited to only a few parts of country due to the lack of roads. This situation underwent change when carriages became popular in urban areas and on the few modern roads after 1890. Motorized transportation grew in importance after 1921 and really took off in the 1930s, with the construction of a new road network. As a result, newer, more powerful trucks reduced the cost of transportation significantly, thus lowering the cost of retail goods. The increase of motorized transport also meant that car dealers, import rules, mechanics, garages, supply of spare parts, and gasoline distribution as well as traffic regulations had to be created ex nihilo; All these processes are detailed in the book. Like cars, bicycles and motorcycles also were increasingly used as of the 1920s, thus increasing choice in people's mobility. More road traffic also implied that travelers needed places to spend the night and eat. The change from caravanserais to guest-houses and hotels is discussed in part 3. These changes in transportation methods did not come alone, for other modern tools of change such as the sewing machine and the typewriter also made their appearance and had a major impact on people's availability and use of time. Finally, the piano made its entry onto the Iranian musical scene, and although not perfectly in tune with the traditional Iranian musical system, it is now as much part of music making in Iran as the tar and santur (part 4 of the book). All these changes and new technologies did not happen overnight or without problems, and slow adoption initially was limited to the upper-class. However, with falling prices and changing needs and policies these new technologies eventually reached a larger public and the idea that they once were 'exotic' and 'out of reach' is now inconceivable to Iranians. The studies in this book provide a new vantage point and understanding of the transfer of modern technology for scholars of the social-economic and cultural history of the Middle East.

Contents:

Intro

Introduction

Traditional Modes of Transportation

THE CHAPAR-KHANEH SYSTEM

The Kajaveh and Takht-e Ravan

The Use of Carts

Modern Modes of Transportation wheeled vehicles

Carriages

AUTOMOBILES

Obstacles to the Use of Cars

Import Arrangements

Traffic Rules and Administrative Regulations

PERSIA

AUTOMOTIVE PARTS, ACCESSORIES, AND SERVICE EQUIPMENT

Bicycles

Motorcycles

Modern Ways of Lodging Travelers

Hotels in Iran, 1870-1940

Tools of Change

the Sewing Machine and the Typewriter Conquer Iran

The Sewing Machine

Typewriters

A Short History of the Piano in Iran

BIBLIOGRAPHY

index

Fig. 1: Kurdish postillion

Fig. 2: Belit (ticket) for the hire of a gari (lorry).

Fig. 3: Chaparing

Fig. 4: An official travel permit or tazkereh.

Fig. 5: Chaparchi

Fig. 6: Chapar-khaneh at Tisi-Hutch (exterior).

Fig. 7: Chapar-khaneh at Haouz-e Sultan.

Fig. 8: Chapar-khaneh at Kuhrud.

Fig. 9: Chapar-khaneh at Tisi-Hutch (interior).

Fig. 10: Chapar-khaneh at Kushku Baira.

Fig. 11: 'Limited mail express'

Fig. 12: Mail stage

Fig. 13: Opposite and above: Post driver and carrying the mail in Khorasan.

Fig. 14: Relais on the road to Qazvin.

Fig. 15: Above and opposite: Travel permits or tazkerehs.

Fig. 16: Chapar-khaneh at Robat Karim.

Fig. 17: Persian post-carriage

Fig. 18: Chapar-khaneh at Kudum.

Fig. 19: Postwagon in a bad position.

Fig. 20: Unidentified chapar-khaneh (Qom area).

Fig. 21: Kajaveh

Fig. 22: Takht-e ravan, a Persian ink-sketch.

Fig. 23: Takht-e ravan

Fig. 24: A two-wheeled cart, arabeh

Fig. 25: A two-wheeled cart, arabeh

Fig. 26: Repairing a wagon wheel.

Fig. 27: A four-wheeled horse-drawn Russian vehicle, tarantas.

Fig. 28: Horse-drawn street car.

Fig. 29: Horse-drawn carriage on the road from Tehran to Rasht.

Fig. 30: On the Persian Highway.

Fig. 31: Fourgon without springs.

Fig. 32: Diligence on the Tehran-Qom road.

Fig. 33: Changing vehicles.

Fig. 34: Overturned carriage.

Fig. 35: German carriage makers' ad.

Fig. 36: Hansom carriage and freight wagon.

Fig. 37: Mozaffar al-Din Shah and M. Serpolet inspecting a Serpolet car in Paris.

Fig. 38: Koch car.

Fig. 39: Above and opposite: German car manufacturers' ads.

Fig. 41: Road map 1927

Fig. 42: Top, Old caravan route at the Pol-e Dokhtar Pass.

Above, A road replacing the old route.

Fig.43: Permit or tazkereh allowing a vehicle to use the Russian road from Qazvin to Tehran.

Fig. 44: German Adler car on Rasht-Tehran road.

Fig. 45: Road in Khorasan.

Fig. 46: Benz truck on a difficult road in 1924.

Fig. 47: Ad for German cars, 1910.

Fig. 48: Ford dealer ad.

Fig. 49: Dodge Car dealer ad.

Fig. 50: Car insurance ad.

Fig. 51: Engine of a Benz truck cooled down by a raffia mat.

Fig. 52: Transport of oil products in tins.

Fig. 53: First gasoline station in Tehran.

Fig. 54: BP ad.

Fig. 55: Baghdad-Kermanshah car ad.

Fig. 56: Baghdad-Kermanshah car.

Fig. 57: Beirut-Damascus-Baghdad-Tehran car ad.

Fig. 58: Transport Company ad.

Fig. 59: Transport company ad.

Fig. 60: Doroshkeh

Fig. 61: First traffic rules 2 Shavval 1331/2 September 1913.

Fig. 62: Announcement to obtain driving permit and license plate.

Fig. 63: Above and opposite: First car regulations 10 Rabi` I 1338/ 2 December 1919.

Fig. 64: Big wheel bicycle.

Fig. 65: Two-wheel bicyclist on the road to Mashhad.

Fig. 66: Bicycles

Fig. 67: Bicycle permit

Fig. 68: Polo cyclist team

Fig. 69: Street scene in Isfahan with bicycles, a Volkswagen, and a gari.

Fig. 70: Bicycle repair shop.

Fig. 71: An early motorcycle

Fig. 72: Public transportation relais in Shahrud.

Fig. 73: Qazvin mehman-khaneh built by Naser al-Din Shah.

Fig. 74: Hotel Prevôt

Fig. 75: above and opposite: Tehran Hotel adds.

Fig. 76: Above: Grand Hotel and Hotel Astoria ads.

Fig. 77: Opposite: Pension Europe ad.

Fig. 78: Kazerooni guest-house.

Fig. 79: The Grand Hotel Enzeli.

Fig. 80: Letterhead Hotel Amerique, Isfahan.

Fig. 81: Qazvin Mehman-Khaneh.

Fig. 82: Hotel Europe Rasht ad.

Fig. 83: Grand Hotel Rasht ad.

Fig. 84: Mehman-khaneh in 1932.

Fig. 85: Ramsar Hotel.

Fig. 86: German ads for sewing machines.

Fig. 86: Above and opposite: Sewing machine ads.

Fig. 87: Russian sewing machine ad.

Fig. 88: German ad for typewriters.

Fig. 89: Anis al-Dowleh behind a harmonium.

Fig. 90: Golestan tile with piano and Naser al-Din Shah.

Fig. 91: Fakhr al-Taj at the piano.

Fig. 92: The Donaldsons' home with piano.

Fig. 93: German piano sellers' ad.

Table 1: Travel time from Tehran to major chapar stations and mail delivery time (1890)

Table 2: Post stages from Tehran - Tabriz

Table 3: Post stages from Bushehr to Tehran

Table 4: Post stages from Yazdekhvast to Shiraz

Table 5: Post stages from Kermanshah to Tehran

Table 6: Post stages from Mashhad to Tehran

Table 7: Post stages from Astarabad to Tehran

Table 8: Post stages from Rasht to Tehran

Table 9: Post stages from Kerman to Tehran

Table 10: Post stages from Erzerum to Tabriz

Table 11: Tariff for carriages, &amp

c. from Rasht to Tehran and vice versa in 1899

Table 12: Tariff for carriages from Isfahan to various destinations in 1910

Table 13: Posting conveyances (1913-14) were charged for at the following rates:

Table 14: Total imports of vehicles (inc. carriages, bicycles, cars, etc.) in 1903.

Table 15: Number, staff and geographical distribution of carriage makers (kaleskeh-sazi) in Tehran (1306/1927)

Table 16: Number, staff and geographical distribution of coach houses (doroshkeh-khaneh) in Tehran (1306/1927)

Table 17: Number, staff and geographical distribution of wagon houses (gari-khaneh) in Tehran (1306/1927)

Table 18: Import of British vehicles (1925-27)

Table 19: Import of motor vehicles 1924-1929

Table 20: Origin of import of motor vehicles 1927-29

Table 21: American imports of automobiles, parts and accessories (1929-38) in US.

Table 22: Number, staff and geographical distribution of car dealers (namayandegi-ye forush-e otumobil) in Tehran (1306/1927)

Table 23: Number, staff and geographical distribution of car repair shops (mekanichi) in Tehran (1306/1927)

Table 24: Location of car repair shops in 1932 (excl. some of large cities)

Table 25: Number, staff and geographical distribution of gasoline sellers (benzin-forush) in Tehran (1306/1927)

Table 26: Number, staff and geographical distribution of car spare parts sellers (lavazem-e otumobil-forush) in Tehran (1306/1927).

Table 27: Number, staff and geographical distribution of body-shops (otumobil-sazi) in Tehran (1306/1927)

Table 28: Number, staff and geographical distribution of garages (garazh) in Tehran (1306/1927)

Table 29: Car Traffic in Tehran in 1306-1308 (1927-1929)

Table 30: Number, staff and geographical distribution of bicycle shops (ducharkheh-sazi) in Tehran (1306/1927)

Table 31: Number, staff and geographical distribution of mehman-khanehs in Tehran (1306/1927)

Table 32: Number, staff and geographical distribution of sewing machine sellers (mashin khayyati-forush) in Tehran (1306/1927)

Table 33: Total import of pianos and harmoniums in 1903.

Table 34: Import of pianos and other musical instrument in 1913 (in francs)

Table 35: Number, staff and geographical distribution of piano service shops (piyanu-sazi) in Tehran (1306/1927).

Notes:

Description based on print version record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781949445695

1949445690